About the FIFA World Cup, the Festival in Kavarna and the NEW album...

The Famous Finnish singerВ called usВ and our idea was to question herВ mainly aboutВ the forthcoming headlining slot at this year'sВ KAVARNA ROCK FEST 2010 and her brand new studio album, but it turned to be quite a different story.

an interview conducted by Vassil Varbanov

HEY TARJA, WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

I am back in Finland. I haven’t been here in a long time. The sun is shining and it’s beautiful real fun.

YOU ARE COMING TO BULGARIA FOR NO LESS THAN A THIRD TIME NOW AND WE WANT TO ASK YOU WHETHER YOU ARE BRINGING THE SAME OVER WITH YOU THAT YOU DID LAST TIME?

Oh my God, help me out…who was there? Ha ha ha, no, just kidding. Mike Terrana will be on drums, Max Lilja will be playing the cello, Oliver Holzwarth will be on bass – Doug Wimbish is busy with his Living Colour, Alex Scholpp will be on guitar and Christian Kretschmar from Germany will be on keyboards. 

YOUR NEW ALBUM IS CALLED ‘WHAT LIES BENEATH’…SO WHAT ACTUALLY LIES BENEATH… CAN YOU TELL US THEN?

Oh, many things lie beneath that you don’t see at the first sight when you look at things, you know… But the thing for me was that I got a title already, like two years ago and since then I’ve been working on the new songs.

I was inspired by the title so all the songs have more or less something to do with the title ‘What Lies Beneath’. I’ve been writing songs about life I see around – about what really catches me, really bothers me… Even songs about what lies beneath the surface of the water.

Some there are some beautiful orchestral songs but also some really heavy and straight forward tunes.В 

YOU PRODUCED THIS ALBUM WITH A LITTLE BIT OF HELP FROM COLIN RICHARDSON, BUT YOU ARE THE MAIN PERSON THERE. WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE ALMOST COMPLETELY IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING – IS THAT A BIT OF PRESSURE THERE…A BIT OF AN EXTRA BURDEN?

To be honest, it was such a pleasure to be free and to be in charge of the things on this album. Because when I saw the track record of the musicians that have already been working with me for the last three years, it was really easier for the whole process.

I don’t need anybody there because I am sure what I want. And it was a big step for me, of course, to realize that I am able to do this. And I was questioning myself in the early production – would I be able to handle it?

Eventually, when I saw the track I really said that , OK, and we had such a time in the studio and now the results are speaking, I mean, it’s truly ME and it’s truly wonderful because I am able to say this out loud: I’M REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE ALL DID FOR THE ALBUM! And I’m sure that the fans will hear and feel it!

OF COURSE WE DON’T MEAN TO PRY INTO YOUR PRIVATE LIFE TARJA, BUT IT IS THE WORLD CUP NOW AND ALTHOUGH FINLAND DIDN’T QUALIFY, ARGENTINA DID. YOUR HUSBAND, MARCELO IS FROM ARGENTINA...WHAT IS HIS REACTION LIKE?

I think it's not only my husband's reaction -В  I am doing the same, you know... I married and Argentinean and football comes with the marriage.

But seriously, it's wonderful, I mean it's very exciting how it goes. And Argentina has been doing fine. Unfortunately, my home country Finland has never made it to the finals but I am a real football fan and I just love it!

I would really love to fly to South Africa right now but I can't.

YOU STILL HAD SOME GREAT PLAYERS LIKE JARI LITMANEN, SO FINLAND HAS GIVEN WORLD FOOTBALL SOME GREAT MOMENTS AS WELL…

Yeah, but I think that if you have five or six good players – it’s not enough for a good team.

SO, WHAT'S YOUR HUSBAND MARCELO THINK ABOUT ARGENTINA'S MANAGER?

Oh, Maradona. He's a hero, of course - a true legend. I mean, seriously guys - who was the best player in the World?

PELE!

.....!

OK, WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST LOOKING PLAYER AT THIS WORLD CUP THEN?

Oh my god, don't ask me that, ha ha ha. Well there are so many good looking guys. But I think that South Africa and the African teams in general...they are so athletic and it's such a pleasure to watch them run. Wow, what a body!

DOUG WIMBISH BODY STYLE?

Yep!

YOU WILL BE HEADLINING THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE KAVARNA ROCK FESTIVAL – JULY 23 – WHICH IS ALMOST AN ALL GIRLIE NIGHT WITH BANDS LIKE EPICA, DORO, LIV KRISTINE’S BAND AND YOURSELF. WHO OF THESE YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST?

Oh no, don’t ask me about that! We girls, we keep the team and we really look for the same things in life. It’s a men’s world the rock world and we are in it. There is a whole new genre of girls in metal happening around and was not there when I started all this many many years ago.

At least not too many girls! Not too many operatic vocals in heavy metal bands! I mean, it’s such a pleasure to go to a festival and rock with the girls.

CAN THE GIRLS PARTY AS HARD AS THE GUYS THEN? I GUESS THEY DO…

Yes, of course, ha ha ha!

YOU ARE TOURING WITH ALICE COOPER THROUGHOUT GERMANY IN NOVEMBER, ARE YOU GOING TO BE PUTTING SOME SHOCK ROCK STUFF IN YOUR SET AS WELL, SOME EFFECTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

You know that I covered Alice Copper’s ‘Poison’ on my last record… And you won’t see me on this tour performing the song alone, ha ha ha.

I’ve heard and I’ve seen that Alice is a gentleman and such a nice guy to work with. And I’m sure that I will have a really great time on that tour. And of course it’s also a really great opportunity for me to support him on this tour.

HAS HE INSISTED THAT YOU ALL GO AND PLAY GOLF WITH HIM?

Nah, I don’t think so, ha ha ha.

BECAUSE IN KAVARNA, THERE IS A REALLY COOL GOLF COURSE…

Oh wow, I didn’t know about it…

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE TWO WORLD CUP GAMES TODAY - SPAIN AGAINST PORTUGAL AND PARAGUAY AGAINST JAPAN...

I think Portugal and Japan will win.

PLEASE NOT THAT THE KAVARNA ROCK FEST IS QUITE NEXT TO THE BEACH, SO BRING YOUR SUIT…

Oh yeah, that would be wonderful. I’m really looking forward to go there, because I’ve heard and I’ve seen pictures that it’s a really beautiful place!

YEAH, AND YOU’LL MEET THE MAYOR…

I will go to the beach!

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